Resumen El Chagas es una de las problemáticas de salud pública más importantes de América, involucrando a los triatominos (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) en la transmisión vectorial del Trypanosoma cruzi (Protista: Kinetoplastea: Trypanosomatidae). En Argentina se distribuyen 15 especies, de las cuales siete son las más frecuentes en el domicilio y peridomicilio, y las restantes se encuentran asociadas principalmente al ámbito silvestre. Ante la falta de datos actualizados sobre sus distribuciones geográficas, surge el proyecto GeoVin para brindar tanto una herramienta digital de notificación acerca de la presencia de triatominos, como información sobre la problemática de Chagas y dichos vectores. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar, describir y enumerar algunos avances del proyecto remarcando los principios de la ciencia participativa y la vigilancia entomológica. Hasta el momento, se han registrado más de 2.300 visitas web y la aplicación ha sido descargada más de 3.400 veces. El aporte del proyecto en la articulación con los organismos gubernamentales de salud correspondientes y la inmediatez de la interacción con la comunidad son elementos clave para el éxito del mismo. Al mismo tiempo, la información recopilada es un insumo constante para la actualización de las distribuciones geográficas de los triatominos argentinos.

Abstract Chagas disease is one of the most important public health problems in America, involving triatomines (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) in the vectorial transmission of Trypanosomacruzi (Protista: Kinetoplastea: Trypanosomatidae). In Argentina, 15 species of triatomines are distributed, of which seven are the most common in the domicile and peridomicile, while the rest are mainly associated with wild environments. Due to the lack of updated data of geographic distribution, the GeoVin Project arises to provide not only a triatomine digital tool of triatomine notification, but also resources with information about Chagas and triatomine vectors. The aim of this paper is to present, describe and highlight the progress of the project, emphasizing the principles of participatory science and entomological surveillance. So far, more than 2,300 web visits have been recorded and the application has been downloaded over 3,400 times. The contribution of the project in articulating with the corresponding government health agencies and the immediacy of the interaction with the community are key elements for the project success. At the same time, the information collected is a constant input for updating the geographical distributions of Argentinian triatomines.

Resumen Los mosquitos, al igual que otros insectos hematófagos, requieren alimentarse de sangre para producir huevos. En la cría de colonias de laboratorio, generalmente se utilizan animales vivos, mientras que para ensayos experimentales se han desarrollado diversos alimentadores artificiales con características distintas. En este estudio, se seleccionó un alimentador artificial de vidrio previamente desarrollado y probado en infecciones con patógenos, y se evaluó su eficacia en la cría de Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus). Este dispositivo utiliza tripa bovina como membrana y sangre humana como fuente de alimentación, manteniendo una temperatura constante de 37 °C gracias a un baño termostático que permite la circulación de agua alrededor del alimentador. Durante un período de 4-5 semanas, se analizaron la eclosión de los huevos, las tasas de alimentación y fertilidad de tres cohortes de un linaje parental (P) y sus respectivos linajes filiales (F1). Los resultados demostraron la eficacia de esta metodología para la cría de una colonia de Ae. aegypti hasta la segunda generación, con tasas de eclosión de huevos promedio de P= 0,92 y F1= 0,80, tasas de alimentación promedio de P= 0,54 y F1= 0,73, y una cantidad de huevos obtenidos de P= 1809 y F1= 8579.

Abstract Mosquitoes, like other hematophagous insects, need to feed on blood to produce eggs. For laboratory colony maintenance, live animals are generally used, while various artificial feeders with different characteristics have been developed for experimental assays. In this study, a previously developed and pathogen-tested glass artificial feeder was selected and evaluated for rearing Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus). The device utilizes bovine gut as a membrane and human blood as a food source, maintaining a constant temperature of 37 °C through a thermostatic bath that enables water circulation around the feeder. Egg hatching, feeding rates, and fertility were analyzed for three cohorts of a parental lineage (P) and their respective filial lineages (F1) over a period of 4-5 weeks. The results demonstrated the efficacy of this methodology for rearing an Ae. aegypti colony up to the second generation, with average egg hatching rates of P= 0.92 and F1= 0.80, average feeding rates of P= 0.54 and F1= 0.73, and egg quantities obtained of P= 1809 and F1 = 8579.

The causative agent of Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi) is transmitted to mammals - including humans - mainly by insect vectors of the subfamily Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Currently, the subfamily includes 157 valid species (154 extant and three extinct), grouped into 18 genera and five tribes. We present the description of a subdataset (7852 records) of American triatomine occurrences, as an update to the most complete and integrated database available up to date at a continental scale. The new georeferenced records were obtained from a systematic review of published literature and data provided by colleagues. New data correspond to 101 species and 14 genera from 22 American countries in the time interval between 1935 and 2022. The most important novelties refer to: i) the inclusion of new species, ii) synonymies and formal transferals of species, and iii) temporal and geographical species records updates. We encourage the use of this information especially as a contribution to the entomological surveillance implicated in Chagas disease.

El agente causal de la Enfermedad de Chagas (Trypanosoma cruzi) es transmitido a los mamíferos - incluyendo al ser humano - principalmente por insectos vectores de la subfamilia Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Actualmente, la subfamilia incluye 157 especies (154 actuales y tres extintas), agrupadas en 18 géneros y cinco tribus. Presentamos la descripción de un subconjunto de datos (7852 registros) de presencias de triatominos americanos, como una actualización de la más completa e integrada base de datos disponible hasta el momento a escala continental. Los nuevos registros georreferenciados fueron obtenidos de una revisión sistemática de referencias publicadas y datos cedidos por colegas. Los nuevos datos corresponden a 101 especies y 14 géneros de 22 países americanos en el intervalo de tiempo entre 1935 y 2022. Las novedades más importantes refieren a: i) la incorporación de nuevas especies, ii) sinonimias y transferencias formales de especies, y iii) actualizaciones temporales y geográficas de registros de especies. Alentamos a la utilización de esta información, especialmente para contribuir a la vigilancia entomológica implicada en la Enfermedad de Chagas.

In the La Plata Horticultural Belt (CHP, in Spanish), bee viruses were searched for the frst time in green bug Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). The presence of the Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) was detected using PCR technique. These results would allow to infer that knowledge of viral infections in insects could be of great importance since they could act as viral reservoirs, resulting in the spilling of pathogens to honey bees and other pollinators. This study made it possible to detect IAPV for the frst time in N. viridula. Future studies are needed to understand the ecology of these viruses in arthropod communities of CHP and to determine the role that green bugs play as possible reservoirs of these viruses in the environment.

Se llevó a cabo un relevamiento de virus patógenos de abejas en ejemplares de chinche verde Nezara viridula (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) en el Cinturón Hortícola Platense (CHP). Se detectó la presencia del Virus israelí de la parálisis aguda (IAPV) mediante técnicas moleculares. Estos resultados permitirían inferir que las infecciones virales en los insectos son de gran importancia ya que podrían actuar como reservorios virales, información que podría ser útil para conocer la dinámica del virus en la naturaleza. Este trabajo detecta por primera vez la presencia de IAPV en N. viridula. Serán necesarios estudios adicionales para entender la ecología de estos virus en las comunidades de artrópodos del CHP y determinar el rol que cumplen las chinches como posibles reservorios de estos virus en el ambiente.

The family Dicistroviridae comprises three genera and about twenty species of RNA virus, most of them with health or agricultural importance. The Triatoma virus (TrV) is the only entomopathogenic virus identified in triatomine bugs up to the present. TrV replicates within the intestinal epithelial cells, causing high mortality rate and delayed development of the molt of these bugs. TrV has been proposed as a biological control agent for vectors of Chagas disease. Viral particles were purified from feces of 1, 5 and 10 insects from an experimental colony of Triatoma infestans infected with TrV. Viral concentration and infectivity were corroborated using polyacrylamide gels and RT-PCR, respectively. In this work we report a method of viral purification that allows to reduce necessary reagents and time, using a very small amount of fecal matter.

A list of species of the genus PimeliaphilusTrägårdh, associated with different species of american triatomines is provided, including their respective geographical coordinates. Bibliographic compilation and field work were carried out to incorporate new reports. The geographical distribution ofPimeliaphilus triatomaeCunliffe is extended, with two new reports for the province of Chaco (Argentina) and the host range is also extended, being the first time it is found associated with Triatoma delponteiRomaña & Abalos.

Se brinda un listado de especies del género PimeliaphilusTrägårdh asociadas a diferentes especies de triatominos, con sus respectivas coordenadas geográficas de todo el continente americano. Se realizaron viajes de campo para incorporar nuevos registros a una recopilación bibliográfica. Se extiende la distribución geográfica de Pimeliaphilus triatomae Cunliffe, con dos registros para la provincia de Chaco (Argentina) y se amplía el rango de hospedadores ya que se citan por primera vez asociados a Triatoma delpontei Romaña & Abalos.

In a survey for parasites and pathogens of Aedes aegypti conducted in La Plata, Argentina, an aseptate gregarine was found parasitizing larvae, pupae and adults of this mosquito species. This gregarine species was identified as Ascogregarina culicis based on the morphology and size of gamonts, gametocysts and oocysts. It is the first record of gregarine infections in culicids from Argentina.

We evaluated the potential of Mesocyclops annulatus as a control agent of Aedes aegypti in La Plata city (Argentina). Mosquito larval survivorship due to predation by these copepods was estimated at weekly intervals during the oviposition period of A. aegypti. Mean weekly A. aegypti larval survivorship in cylindrical plastic containers (12 cm height and 11 cm diameter) with copepods was significantly lower than in control containers. Furthermore, weekly larval survival was negatively correlated with M. annulatus adult density, and approximately 23 adult copepods/container would be a threshold density over which the weekly mosquito larval survivorship approached zero. The copepods were able to persist in all containers during approximately 100 days (in three of them until the end of the experiment: 155 days) without the resource represented by A. aegypti larvae. The predation and persistence observed suggest that M. annulatus is a potential control agent to be considered in biological control programs.

In laboratory bioassays we tested the predatory capacity of the copepod Mesocyclops annulatus on Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens larvae. A single adult female of M. annulatus caused 51.6% and 52.3% mortality of 50 first instar larvae of Ae. aegypti and Cx. pipiens respectively, in a 72 h test period. When alternative food was added to the containers, mortality rates declined to 16% and 10.3% for Ae. aegypti and Cx. pipiens respectively. When 50 first instar larvae of each of the two mosquito species tested were placed together with a single adult female of M. annulatus, mortality rates were 75.5% for Ae. aegypti larvae and 23.5% for Cx. pipiens larvae in a three day test period. Different density of adult females of M. annulatus ranged from 5 to 25 females produced mortality rates of Ae. aegypti first instar larvae from 50% to 100% respectively. When a single adult female of M. annulatus was exposed to an increasing number of first-instar Ae. aegypti larvae ranging from 10 to 100, 100% mortality was recorded from 1 to 25 larvae, then mortality declined to 30% with 100 larvae. The average larvae killed per 24 h period by a single copepod were 29.